Private

I thought you might enjoy some details of the M40 Replica Project I just completed [with help from many]. Before I start -> this is a "M40 Replica" some of the details are not exactly right, but they were acceptable to me and you always have a cost benefit analysis you have to do when you take on a project like this one [it will always be a Replica].

This project started almost one year ago when I made a comment To a friend that I wanted to have a M40 clone in my collection someday. I really wanted some of the well known weapons from the Vietnam area and at a minimum wanted [several clone versions of the M14; then the M16A1 and M40]. I know other key weapons were used but I really wanted these three in my collection. I was approached by a forum member on another forum forum to take-over a M40 project that was really far along, but the owner decided he wanted to direct resources another way and we began to talk. After a lot of communications with the owner of the project and many of my other "Friends" [that like to help me spend money] they encouraged me to move forward and take over the project which I did and I am glad! The forum member that originally had this project did A LOT of work and is very knowledgeable when discussing the M40.

*The Scope Shown on the Rilfe - is also an original Redfield 3X - 9X Gen - 1 with Accu-Range reticle (with ranging scale and stadia lines/wires). Many of the "original M40" scopes have multiple colors as the anodizing take on different colors from the exposure to light and time. I did not want to put a black glossy scope on this rifle, so I decided to take a chance and experiment with my extra Redfield Scope. I took the scope down to the bare finish and first used a new Duracoat product called Duradize. This product emulated the anodizing process so I did the entire scope with OD Green. Next after looking at many scopes I used Duracoat aged bronze to change the color of some pieces of the scope which turns bronze / light brown over time. I did all of the work with my airbrush and decided I would go with this scope until I can get my other one anodized. I know it is not anodized and aged and it is not perfect for sure, but I went outside the box [as I often do] to see what I could do and met my objective of not having a black scope.

* Stock Finishing - once I got the rifle back from being pillar bedded I did my M1Army thing to the beautiful chunk of Walnut that came from Taylor Precision Engineering. I mixed up my custom mix of Stew Mac stain to give the walnut a nice uniform color and finished the stock using my method(s). I love the look and feel of the stock and the entire rifle for that matter.

Outside Help / Gunsmith - I sent the rifle off to Raven Rifles to do the pillar bedding and to coordinate the final metal finishes for the M40 etc. He did a great job and was easy to work with!

Vietnam Era Gear - I laid out some of the Vietnam ear gear I have acquired over the years and included it in the pictures. I am not suggesting this would be the correct gear necessarily for a Marine carrying a M40, but I just wanted to share some of the gear I have acquired over time. I forgot my bayonet and scabbard and I also have some original meal kits including smokes, insect repellent etc. I included the gear just for fun, but a lot of it is NOS form the mid to late 1960's.

Private

I drove over to the Georgia Gun Club for my first range trip. The GGC has a 100 yard indoor range so I like to take new builds to shoot for the first time to eliminate some of the outside variables.

It had been a while since I sent a decent number of rounds down range with a bolt action rifle and the old shoulder felt the heat. It was great to shoot this fine M40 Replica rifle and she performed without flaw. We have so many platforms to choose from today that include tons of new technology, but the simplicity of this rifle was welcoming! Basically you acquire your target, put the cross hairs on it and squeeze the trigger - wham you hit it!

Below was my best group after getting the Redfield scope sighted in and I believe this was an 8 shot group. This was shot at the Georgia Gun Club at the 100 yard indoor range [my favorite place to shoot a new build]. I will share my initial load data and if you have a favorite M40 load maybe you can leave your recipe. I was happy considering the rifle was new and still breaking her in - I was a little rusty too!

I also wanted to say I took part in a QuickLoad group buy on another forum several months ago and have found the software program to be very useful particularly in when you are trying to work-up a new load for a new rifle.

Here are some specifics:

Powder - 42.1 Grains of H-4895
Primer - Federal Match Large Rifle
Bullet - SMK 168 Grain hpbt
Case - New Winchester Brass
Case Trim Length - 2.005
Ogive Measurement - 2.2238 for this rifle/bullet combination after measuring the OAL with my Hornady Overall Length Gage and backing off the lands .020
Accuracy Node - QuickLoad shows 1.228 MS - which is exactly on Node #5 for a 24" barrel.
I have some H-4064 powder I will try in the future as well

Private

I thought you might enjoy some details of the M40 Replica Project I just completed [with help from many]. Before I start -> this is a "M40 Replica" some of the details are not exactly right, but they were acceptable to me and you always have a cost benefit analysis you have to do when you take on a project like this one [it will always be a Replica].

This project started almost one year ago when I made a comment To a friend that I wanted to have a M40 clone in my collection someday. I really wanted some of the well known weapons from the Vietnam area and at a minimum wanted [several clone versions of the M14; then the M16A1 and M40]. I know other key weapons were used but I really wanted these three in my collection. I was approached by a forum member on another forum forum to take-over a M40 project that was really far along, but the owner decided he wanted to direct resources another way and we began to talk. After a lot of communications with the owner of the project and many of my other "Friends" [that like to help me spend money] they encouraged me to move forward and take over the project which I did and I am glad! The forum member that originally had this project did A LOT of work and is very knowledgeable when discussing the M40.

*The Scope Shown on the Rilfe - is also an original Redfield 3X - 9X Gen - 1 with Accu-Range reticle (with ranging scale and stadia lines/wires). Many of the "original M40" scopes have multiple colors as the anodizing take on different colors from the exposure to light and time. I did not want to put a black glossy scope on this rifle, so I decided to take a chance and experiment with my extra Redfield Scope. I took the scope down to the bare finish and first used a new Duracoat product called Duradize. This product emulated the anodizing process so I did the entire scope with OD Green. Next after looking at many scopes I used Duracoat aged bronze to change the color of some pieces of the scope which turns bronze / light brown over time. I did all of the work with my airbrush and decided I would go with this scope until I can get my other one anodized. I know it is not anodized and aged and it is not perfect for sure, but I went outside the box [as I often do] to see what I could do and met my objective of not having a black scope.

* Stock Finishing - once I got the rifle back from being pillar bedded I did my M1Army thing to the beautiful chunk of Walnut that came from Taylor Precision Engineering. I mixed up my custom mix of Stew Mac stain to give the walnut a nice uniform color and finished the stock using my method(s). I love the look and feel of the stock and the entire rifle for that matter.

Outside Help / Gunsmith - I sent the rifle off to Raven Rifles to do the pillar bedding and to coordinate the final metal finishes for the M40 etc. He did a great job and was easy to work with!

Vietnam Era Gear - I laid out some of the Vietnam ear gear I have acquired over the years and included it in the pictures. I am not suggesting this would be the correct gear necessarily for a soldier carrying a M40, but I just wanted to share some of the gear I have acquired over time. I forgot my bayonet and scabbard and I also have some original meal kits including smokes, insect repellent etc. I included the gear just for fun, but a lot of it is NOS form the mid to late 1960's.

Gunny Sergeant

Vietnam Era Gear - I laid out some of the Vietnam ear gear I have acquired over the years and included it in the pictures. I am not suggesting this would be the correct gear necessarily for a soldierMarine carrying an M40

Private

"Vietnam Era Gear - I laid out some of the Vietnam ear gear I have acquired over the years and included it in the pictures. I am not suggesting this would be the correct gear necessarily for a soldierMarine carrying an M40"

Modest Man

Beautiful rifle Sir, I’m wondering how much work is needed to rework a old Remington police stock. Has anyone ever done a comparison between a police stock and a Taylor stock since there no longer available.

Private

Below find a few pics of the stock as it came from Taylor Engineering....

Here is a pic after my final sanding and before starting my teak oil finishing progression / refinish. The bare stock was excellent and required very little work in terms of fitting the barreled receiver. I was very impressed with the stock from Taylor Engineering as a whole!

Private

I thought you might enjoy some details of the M40 Replica Project I just completed [with help from many]. Before I start -> this is a "M40 Replica" some of the details are not exactly right, but they were acceptable to me and you always have a cost benefit analysis you have to do when you take on a project like this one [it will always be a Replica].

This project started almost one year ago when I made a comment To a friend that I wanted to have a M40 clone in my collection someday. I really wanted some of the well known weapons from the Vietnam area and at a minimum wanted [several clone versions of the M14; then the M16A1 and M40]. I know other key weapons were used but I really wanted these three in my collection. I was approached by a forum member on another forum forum to take-over a M40 project that was really far along, but the owner decided he wanted to direct resources another way and we began to talk. After a lot of communications with the owner of the project and many of my other "Friends" [that like to help me spend money] they encouraged me to move forward and take over the project which I did and I am glad! The forum member that originally had this project did A LOT of work and is very knowledgeable when discussing the M40.

*The Scope Shown on the Rilfe - is also an original Redfield 3X - 9X Gen - 1 with Accu-Range reticle (with ranging scale and stadia lines/wires). Many of the "original M40" scopes have multiple colors as the anodizing take on different colors from the exposure to light and time. I did not want to put a black glossy scope on this rifle, so I decided to take a chance and experiment with my extra Redfield Scope. I took the scope down to the bare finish and first used a new Duracoat product called Duradize. This product emulated the anodizing process so I did the entire scope with OD Green. Next after looking at many scopes I used Duracoat aged bronze to change the color of some pieces of the scope which turns bronze / light brown over time. I did all of the work with my airbrush and decided I would go with this scope until I can get my other one anodized. I know it is not anodized and aged and it is not perfect for sure, but I went outside the box [as I often do] to see what I could do and met my objective of not having a black scope.

* Stock Finishing - once I got the rifle back from being pillar bedded I did my M1Army thing to the beautiful chunk of Walnut that came from Taylor Precision Engineering. I mixed up my custom mix of Stew Mac stain to give the walnut a nice uniform color and finished the stock using my method(s). I love the look and feel of the stock and the entire rifle for that matter.

Outside Help / Gunsmith - I sent the rifle off to Raven Rifles to do the pillar bedding and to coordinate the final metal finishes for the M40 etc. He did a great job and was easy to work with!

Vietnam Era Gear - I laid out some of the Vietnam ear gear I have acquired over the years and included it in the pictures. I am not suggesting this would be the correct gear necessarily for a Marine carrying a M40, but I just wanted to share some of the gear I have acquired over time. I forgot my bayonet and scabbard and I also have some original meal kits including smokes, insect repellent etc. I included the gear just for fun, but a lot of it is NOS form the mid to late 1960's.

Modest Man

Here is a pic after my final sanding and before starting my teak oil finishing progression / refinish. The bare stock was excellent and required very little work in terms of fitting the barreled receiver. I was very impressed with the stock from Taylor Engineering as a whole!

Sniper’s Hide is a community of Snipers of all kinds, focusing on long range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics. Founded by Frank Galli in 2014, Sniper’s Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to it’s users in one location.